Part 1: RFID in Healthcare

As shown in Figure 2, in a hospital organization environment, the vertical boxes represent the procedure, event or service such as surgery, X-rays, cleaning or distribution of supplies. Within each procedure represented by a vertical column (for example, P1), there are sets of medical objects associated with that procedure (in this example, D1, D2 and D3). These objects can be orthopedic devices, sutures, linens, catheters and diagnostic equipment. There are similar matrix configurations in each hospital department. The departments can be such things as an operating room, radiology or facilities management. Together, all the departments form the hospital’s horizontal hospital supply chain, as shown at the top of Figure 1.




In order to optimize the supply chain, each fundamental process in the healthcare industry—selection, requisition, order, manufacturing, transport, receive, inventory, distribute, point-of-use, pay provider, charge recipient, and reports—has its own information needs and requirements. Each process must be able to communicate to others in the supply chain.” The end goal of any approach taken by anyone in any vertical market will be to integrate and/or automate the entire supply chain.

The micro-modular approach, specifically, strives to resolve many of the existing issues in the life sciences industry. Given that when the approach is fully implemented in the organization, the ROI will increase throughout the supply chain of the hospital. The micro-modular approach for RFID promises to get the most out of your investment by maximizing your limited resources and properly employing them so that the Micro Modular process could eventually automate the entire supply chain.

The difference the Micro-Module Approach makes
It is quite likely that one medical device is used in multiple procedures within the same department. Additionally, the same object may be used in a number of different procedures in different departments. In Figure 3 each separate horizontal block is an object, item or instrument (note D for device and 1 to signify the first device). The vertical row is a procedure with all the necessary items to complete that procedure (note P for procedure and 1 for the first procedure). In the OR Department, for example, procedure P1 uses devices D1, D2 and D3; in the Emergency Department, procedure P1 uses devices D4, D2 and D3.




By dividing each department into a matrix of horizontal boxes representing medical devices and vertical rows representing procedures, one can track the reusability (repetitive use) of one item/device through the organization’s multiple departments. This visual matrix shows how to maximize asset and operational planning of each tracked item, increasing the resulting in ROI through gained asset and operational efficiencies, thus yielding the items true utility (value). Figure 3 shows how device D1 can be used in the OR department in procedures P1, P2 and P3. The same device, D1, is used again in the Emergency Department in procedures P2 and P3.

The Micro-Modular approach divides each department into horizontals devices and verticals procedures, giving a clear picture for the needs (value) of every object relative to its usefulness to perform different tasks in a variety of procedures and within the scope of different departmental functions.